NAIDOC Week (July 8-15) - Faithful Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Christian women on the NAIDOC Week journey

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Christian women profoundly shape our lives, our churches and our nation.

As leaders, trailblazers, pastors, theologians, politicians, activists and social change advocates, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women fought and continue to fight, for justice, equal rights, our rights to country, for law and justice, access to education, employment and to maintain and celebrate our culture, language, music and art.

To honour these women, this NAIDOC Week (July 8-15), we are sharing stories from Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Christian women who have – and continue to – faithfully serve God, his Church and his peoples in the face of injustice and disadvantage.

In friendship, I invite you to join us on this NAIDOC Week journey.

This will be a deeply moving week.

You'll hear stories of our mothers, grandmothers, ministry leaders with over 50 years experience, and theologians. You'll see paintings, you'll see videos, you'll be moved, inspired, convicted and challenged.

In friendship, will you journey with us this NAIDOC Week?

The theme of NAIDOC Week this year is "Because of her, we can!" That's why throughout the week we're sending daily emails from Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Christian women through the Grasstree Gathering and some non-Aboriginal friends of the Grasstree Gathering, as they share about the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Christian women that have inspired them and shaped their lives. The stories of these women will highlight the ongoing work ahead of us as we hear and see the path ahead they've forged for us to follow upon.

Join us as we celebrate the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Christian women who have gone before us, and continue to lead ministries that seek justice, healing and Reconciliation in this land.

Grace and peace,

Brooke Prentis

Aboriginal spokesperson for Common Grace and Coordinator

of the Grasstree Gathering

PS. I've spent the last few weeks connecting with Aboriginal Christian women across the country, as we've put together this NAIDOC Week 2018 series. I can tell you this will be a truly profound week for us all, and I earnestly encourage you to sign up for the journey.

Celebrating MABO DAY in Melbourne

Join us at midday on Sunday 3rd June at Melbourne’s Federation Square to celebrate the 26th Anniversary of Mabo Day.

THEN

Join us from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at the Melbourne Unitarian Peace Memorial Church (110 Grey St, East Melbourne 3002) for an afternoon of music, singing, conversation and afternoon tea to celebrate the 26th Anniversary of Mabo Day.

Bring your family and friends with you to breathe life back into the stalled Reconciliation Process between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians by celebrating Mabo Day with us.

2018 National Reconciliation Event coming up in Brimbank and Marbyrnong

Reconciliation Walk Thursday 31 May 2018, 10.45am – 12.30pm Duke St Community House, 27 Duke Street, Sunshine walking to Matthews Reserve. The National Reconciliation Week is a key activity in the Reconciliation movement’s strategy to support Australians in making progress in the reconciliation dimension Historical Acceptance. Organised in partnership with Brimbank and Maribyrnong Interfaith Network this event will include lunch and activities at Matthews Hill Reserve including Traditional Games, Aboriginal face-painting and arts and crafts. Hamsa Farah, a member of the Brimbank Maribyrnong Interfaith Network, Environmental Scientist and a Somali Muslim community member, will relate his understanding of the Muslim faith to the building reconciliation with Aboriginal people. Find out more about other community events during the National Reconciliation Week.  For more information contact Raewyn Afu at Brimbank City Council on 9249 4458 or visit the events page. Copyright © 2018 Maribyrnong City Council, All rights reserved. The Brimbank and Maribyrnong Interfaith Network (BMIN) The Brimbank and Maribyrnong Interfaith Network (BMIN) is a network open to all religious groups to promote interfaith and intercultural initiatives between different faith and cultural groups in the neighbouring municipalities of Brimbank and Maribyrnong. This network is open to all individuals and groups who are interested in and support the aims and principles (link) of the network. The Brimbank Maribyrnong Interfaith Committee is made up of members of various faith groups from Brimbank and Maribyrnong. Officially launched on 9 December 2010, the BMIN is a joint initiative between Brimbank and Maribyrnong Councils and Faith Community Leaders, with the support of the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Victoria Police. Our mailing address is: Maribyrnong City Council Corner Hyde and Napier Streets, (61 Napier Street) Footscray, Vic 3011 Australia Add us to your address book

Commemoration of the Execution of two indigenous freedom fighters in 1842

On behalf of the Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner Commemoration Committee, I would like to invite you to attend the Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner Commemoration which will be held at the Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner monument at midday, Saturday 20th January 2018 at the corner of Victoria St and Franklin St, Melbourne.

In 1842 two indigenous freedom fighters, Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner, were the first men executed in Victoria. Since 2004 the Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner Commemoration Committee has worked towards the building of a monument in Melbourne to mark this pivotal event. The Melbourne City Council, led by Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, had the foresight and courage to support this project and funded the building of a monument at the execution site, at the corner of Victoria St and Franklin St, opposite the Old Melbourne Gaol, in September 2016. This is the first monument to the Frontier Wars that has been built in a major city in this country.

Reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians is based on the recognition tens of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, women and children died as a result of the colonisation of this land. On the 20th January, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Freedom Fighters Day, the Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner Commemoration Committee holds a public ceremony to honour the indigenous men, women and children who, during the colonisation process, were killed for protecting their lands, their families, their culture and a way of life they had practised for over 40,000 years.

The Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner Commemoration Committee believes your participation in this ceremony on Saturday 20th January 2018 would help to kick-start the stalled reconciliation process between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

We hope to see you on the day.
Dr. Joseph Toscano / Convenor Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner Commemoration Committee

Women's Federation for World Peace --- Bridge of Peace sisterhood event - Saturday 22 February, Clayton Community Centre Theatrette